Improvement in foot-rests for chairs



UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFIOE.

JOHN ENGEE, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOQT-RESTS FOR CHAIRS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,187, dated September 22, 1874 application filed August 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ENGER., of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Rests for Chairs, &c. and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation Ot' my invention with the rest in position for use. Fig. 2 is a detail view.

Same letters show like parts.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an extensible foot-rest for seats, chairs, 85e., by means of which the same can be used as reclining seats or chairs.. It is particularly applicable to reclining car-seats, and is so arranged that when the extensible foot-rest or support is not in use it may be pushed back under the bottom of the seat, so as not to project beyond the same, and not occupy any more space than the seat itself.

a shows the frame of a seat Of a chair. On the under side of this frame are attached two horizontal rods, b. Around these rods are coiled spiral springs. Working ou these rods are two sleeves, d. Attached to these sleeves are the parts fg. When the foot-rest is pressed back under the seat of the chair, the inner ends of the sleeves d compress the spiral springs which surround the rods b. When thus pressed back the extensible foot-rest is held by a catch working up into or behind the front of the frame of the seat of the cha-ir. When this catch is loosened the spiral springs throw out from under the chair-seat the sleeves d, and thus the foot-rest or support, which I will now describe.

The part g is pivoted to the outer ends of the sleeves d, so that it may lie down flat, or be turned up, as shown in Fig. 1. When laid fiat it may be both used as a rest for the feet, and, when desired, pushed back under the chairseat. When turned up, as in Fig. 1, it stretches or tightens the band i, and increases the length of the foot-support. This band i may be snpported by pivoted pieces like j', if desired. The band t' is attached, as before specified, to the pivoted piece g, and extends back, and is attached tO across-piece that is fastened between the sleeves d at or near their inner ends. Thus the band is tightened when the part g is raised, and is folded underneath the part g when it is laid down flat. When the part g is placed as shown in Fig. l thefeet of the person using the chair will keep the band and the part gin proper position; or, if desired, a catch may be used to hold the part f/ when opened up.

The rods b, at their forward ends, are npheld by supports l, which pass through slots in the tops Of the sleeves d, and these supports serve as guides also to the sleeves.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, in section, of one Ot' the sleeves d, showing the slot in its upper side, the purpose of the said slot being to admit ofthe backward and forward movenient of the sleeves.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a chainseat, as described, of the rods b, the springs, the sleeves d, the pivoted part g, and the band i, the said combination to operate in the manner herein described.

1n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my Own, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ENGER.

Witnesses:

WM. HENRY CLIFFORD, FRANK H. JORDAN. 

